Wyatt Earp

BB.5

(out of 5)

Bloated epic on the life of the man who cleaned up Tombstone, Arizona. Kevin Costner gives a bland performance that barely carries the three hour running time as Wyatt Earp, who was driven to attempt suicide by the death of his young wife (Annabeth Gish) only to end up a lawman in Dodge City and later Tombstone. When he’s not shooting people, he spends a lot of time grunting with his brothers about other family clans and their no-good ways, later befriending the loudmouthed Doc Holliday (Dennis Quaid, who steals the whole show) and has the big, historic (and I’m sure largely fictionalized) showdown at the OK Corral. Fans of westerns won’t get much out of it as the pace is completely uneven and the running time completely ridiculous; director Lawrence Kasdan includes more characters and situations than he knows what to do with. It looks beautiful, with superb cinematography by Owen Roizman and detailed costume and set work, but the best characters (Quaid and feisty Catherine O’Hara) are given too little screen time in favour of the emotionally invisible Costner. Also features great supporting work by Isabella Rossellini (underused as well), Mare Winningham, Joanna Going, Michael Madsen, Tom Sizemore, a wonderful JoBeth Williams and a unnecessarily high-billed Gene Hackman.

USA, 1994

Directed by Lawrence Kasdan

Screenplay by Dan Gordon, Lawrence Kasdan

Cinematography by Owen Roizman

Produced by Kevin Costner, Lawrence Kasdan, Jim Wilson

Music by James Newton Howard

Production Design by Ida Random

Costume Design by Colleen Atwood

Film Editing by Carol Littleton

Cast Tags:  Adam Baldwin, Adam Taylor, Albert Trujillo, Alison Elliott, Annabeth Gish, Ben Zeller, Benny Manning, Betty Buckley, Bill Pullman, Billy Streater, Bob ‘Dutch’ Holland, Boots Southerland, Brett Cullen, Catherine O’Hara, Clark Sanchez, Dale West, Darwin Mitchell, David Andrews, David Doty, David L. Stone, Dennis Quaid, Dick Beach, Dillinger Steele, Ed Beimfohr, Ellen Blake, Gabriel Folse, Gary Dueer, Gene Hackman, Geo Cook, Giorgio E. Tripoli, Glen Burns, Greg Goossen, Gregory Avellone, Hanley Smith, Heath Kizzier, Hugh Ross, Ian Bohen, Isabella Rossellini, Jack Kehler, Jake Walker, James Gammon, Jeff Fahey, Jim Caviezel, Joanna Going, JoBeth Williams, John Dennis Johnston, John Doe, John Furlong, John Lawlor, Jon Kasdan, Karen Grassle, Karen Schwartz, Kathleen O’Hara, Kevin Costner, Kirk Fox, Kris Kamm, Larry Sims, Lewis Smith, Linden Ashby, Luce Rains, Mackenzie Astin, Mare Winningham, Mark Harmon, Marlene D. Williams, Martin Kove, Mary Jo Niedzielski, Matt Beck, Matt Langseth, Matt O’Toole, Michael Huddleston, Michael Madsen, Michael McGrady, Monty Stuart, Nick Benseman, Norman Howell, Oliver Hendrickson, Paul Ukena, Randle Mell, Rex Linn, Rockne Tarkington, Rusty Hendrickson, Sarge McGraw, Scott Paul, Scott Rasmussen, Scotty Augare,Steph Benseman, Steve Cormier, Steve Kniesel, Steve Lindsay, Steven Gregory Tyler, Téa Leoni, Todd Allen, Tom Sizemore, Zack McGillis

Academy Award Nomination
Best Cinematography (Owen Roizman)

Razzie Awards
Worst Actor (Kevin Costner
Worst Remake or Sequel

Nominations
Worst Picture
Worst Director (Lawrence Kasdan)
Worst Screen Couple (Kevin Costner, any of his three wifes)